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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/proceedingsofmee00newj_1 


PROCEEDINGS 

op 

A MEETING 

■ V'. 

HELD  AT 

PRINCETON,  NEW-JERSEY, 

JULY  14,  1834. 

TO  FORM 

■y 

IN  THE  STATE  OF  NEW-JERSEY, 

TO  COOPERATE  WITH  THE 

AMERICAN 

Colonif  Atlon 


pulvcetojV, 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  SOCIETY, 
BY  D.  A.  BORRENSTEIN. 


1824. 


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PROCEEDINGS, 


&c.  &c. 


IN  pursuance  of  a Public  Notice  that  had 
been  given  in  the  several  News-papers,  printed 
in  New- Jersey, — 

A large  and  respectable  Meeting  took  place 
in  the  Church,  in  the  Borough  of  Princeton, 
on  Wednesday,  July  14,  1824. 

Ojy  MOTIOJV  MADE  AJVD  SECONDED, 

ROBERT  FIELD  STOCKTON,  ESQUIRE, 

OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  NAVY, 

was  requested  to  take  the  Chair ; and  on  taking 
the  Chair,  opened  the  Meeting  with  the  following 
Address. 

THE  promptness  with  which  I accept  this  high  honour, 
wliich  you,  my  fellow  citizens,  have  conferred  upon  me, 
arises  not  from  any  presumption  of  my  own  worthiness,  but 


4 


from  an  unwillingness  to  slight  in  the  least  degree,  tlie 
smallest  mark  of  your  esteem.  The  usual  embarrassments 
which  are  experienced  upon  the  first  occasion  of  a young, 
man’s  addressing  a Public  Assembly,  are  much  increased  by 
the  peculiar  circumstances  under  which  I am  called  upon  to 
fulfil  the  duties  of  your  chairman  ; — and  perceiving  among 
this  audience,  some  of  the  most  learned  and  distinguished 
men,  before  whose  age  and  experience  it  would  better  be- 
come me  to  be  silent,  I confess,  my  confidence  has  almost 
forsaken  me,  and  my  mind  would  surely  sink  under  the 
weight  of  this  exertion,  did  I not  know,  that  all  the  defi- 
ciences  of  the  person  addressing  you,  will  readily  be  made 
up  by  the  intelligence  and  sagacity  of  those,  who  hear  him. 


In  conformity  with  the  common  practice  upon  such  occa- 
sion, I beg  your  indulgence  while  I shall  endeavour  in  the 
briefest  manner,  to  give  an  outline  of  the  design,  commence- 
ment, and  progress,  of  the  American  Society  for  Colo- 
nizing THE  FREE  PEOPLE  OF  COLOUR  OF  THE  UnITED 

States  ; and  in  aid  of  which  this  Public  Meeting  has  been 
called ; leaving  it  to  be  filled  up  by  gentlemen,  who  are 
much  more  competent,  and  no  doubt,  prepared,  to  give  to 
this  matter  a thorough  investigation. 

Slavery,  with  all  its  unprecedented  atrocities,  had,  for 
many  years,  been  the  constant  theme  of  reflection  and  dis- 
cussion among  the  Philanthropists  of  the  world ; and  in  no 
country  were  their  exertions,  to  put  an  end  to  that  traffic,  and 
to  make  amends  for  the  mistaken  policy,  and  cruel  inhumanity 
of  our  progenitors,  more  zealous  and  sincere  than  in  this,  our 
own; — various  had  been  the  suggestions  and  plans  of  the  friends 
of  justice  and  humanit}^,  to  put  a stop  to  that  trade;  and  for 
the  gradual  abolition  of  slavery,  throughout  our  country. — But 
no  man  was  found  sufficiently  bold  and  able  to  lay  before  the 
public  a well  digested  Plan,  obviating  the  objections,  which  had 


5 


always  been  raised  against  this  effort  of  benevolence ; (the 
greatest  of  which  was,  the  letting  loose  upon  the  community  of 
the  United  States,  such  a body  of  men,  who  had  no  important 
interests  at  stake,  nor  any  common  concern  in  the  permanency 
of  our  Institutions;)  until  the  Rev.  Mr.  Finley  of  this  State,  with 
the  assistance  of  others,  made  known  the  present  scheme  of  the 
American  Society  for  Colonizing  the  free  people  of  colour  of 
the  United  vStates. — The  remembrance  of  Mr.  Finley’s  exalted 
virtues  and  steady  pei'severance  in  the  paths  of  rectitude  and 
honour  and  humanity,  swell  my  bosom  with  emotions,  not  easily 
to  be  checked ; for  to  none  were  they  better  known,  than  to  my- 
self, having  been  one  of  his  pupils — and  may  I not  be  permitted, 
on  this  occasion,  to  offer  my  humble  but  sincere  tribute  of  re- 
spect, to  the  memory  of  one  so  great  and  so  good. — His  object 
was  national,  as  well  as  humane  and  religious.  The  nation 
ought,  and  I have  no  doubt,  will  honour  him.  If  those  then, 
who  are  connected  with  him  by  no  other  tie  tlian  that  of 
national  pride,  will  respect  and  cherish  his  memory,  where 
would  you  draw  the  limits  to  that  ardent  and  enthusiastic 
regard,  which  every  friend  may  be  allowed  to  entertain  for 
his  character.  I have  said,  he  was  a good  man ; and  as  it 
is  the  highest  eulogium,  that  can  be  bestowed  upon  any 
one,  I will  leave  this  subject,  pleasing  as  it  is,  for  the 
purpose  of  performing  my  duty ; and  relieving  you,  as  soon 
as  possible,  from  the  fatigue  of  hearing  me,  and  be  myself 
relieved  from  that  perturbation  of  mind,  which  arises  from  the 
novelty  of  my  situation. 

It  has  been  stated,  that  the  objects  of  the  authors  of  that 
Institution  were  national  and  religious ; but  perhaps  it  will  not 
be  amiss,  to  be  a little  more  particular  and  minute,  as  there 
appears  to  be  some  misunderstanding  in  that  particular. 

Their  first  and  great  object  was  a gradual  Abolition  of 
Slavery.  They  perceived  the  dangers,  that  would  result  from 
the  liberation  of  slaves  in  any  number,  until  some  suitable 
place,  beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  had  been  pre- 


6 


pared  for  their  reception,  and  therefore  proposed  the  Plan 
which  is  now  in  successful  operation. 

A second  motive  was,  to  reclaim  the  inhabitants  of  Af- 
rica from  savageness  and  brutality.  That  vast  continent  is 
said  to  contain  fifty  millions  of  Inhabitants  ; whose  pleasures 
are  sloth,  and  idleness  ; their  employments,  rapine  and 
murder ; their  knowledge,  treachery ; their  government  force, 
cruelty,  and  oppression,  their  religion,  a blind  devotion  to 
the  most  profane  and  bloody  superstitions  5 and  in  truth, 
the  whole  of  that  immense  population,  vitiated  and  debased 
by  the  most  profound  ignorance,  and  unrestrained  barbarism. 
To  civilize  this  degenerate  people,  to  change  their  ig- 
norance into  knowledge,  their  horrible  superstition  into  a 
right  understanding  of  the  Christian  Religion,  their  treach- 
ery into  good  faith,  and  their  slothfulness  into  industry,  are 
among  the  results  contemplated  by  the  proposed  Plan  of  the 
American  Colonization  Society. 

A third  motive  that  was  strong  in  its  operation  upon  the 
mind  of  Mr.  Finley  and  his  coadjutors,  was  the  suppression 
of  the  Slave  Trade.  I need  not  detain  you  by  any  comment 
upon  the  wickedness  and  barbarity  of  that  Trade  ; it  has  been 
so  often  the  theme  of  just  reproach  and  severe  invective,  and 
all  Christendom  seems  to  have  settled  down  upon  the  princi- 
ple, that  such  traffickers  are  “hostes  humani  generis.”  But 
as  the  first  founders  of  that  Institution  have  so  often  been  ac- 
cused of  extravagant  and  visionary  expectations,  it  may  not  be 
ivnbecoming  in  me  to  state,  how  it  was  expected  that  the 
Establishment  of  a Colony  on  the  Coast  of  Africa,  would 
operate  upon  that  trade. 

All  the  inhabitants  of  that  region,  south  of  the  Great 
Desert,  have  been  for  ages  constantly  supplied  with  rum, 
tobacco,  pipes,  &c.  &:c.  &c.,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
the  Slave  Traders  ; and  having  been  led  to  believe,  that 
their  supply  of  those  articles,  depended  entirely  upon  the 
prosecution  and  prosperity  of  that  trade,  they  are  continu- 


7 


ally  engaged  in  wars  for  the  purpose  of  its  continuation. — 
They  have  been  led  from  the  cultivation  of  their  rich  and 
luxuriant  soil,  and  even  from  the  chase,  the  legitimate  pur- 
suit and  manly  employment  of  savage  life,  to  the  unnatu- 
ral practice  of  speculating  in  human  blood! — No  rational 
mind  can  believe,  that  the  feelings  of  relation,  and  friend, 
and  tribe,  and  countryman,  could  have  been  originally  de- 
nied to  this  people ; but  rather,  that  it  had  been  paralysed 
by  the  prospect  of  gain,  the  removal  of  which  powerful  prin- 
ciple would  restore  to  the  African  in  full  force,  his  natural 
regards  and  friendships. — It  was  therefore  believed,  that  the 
establishment  of  a Colony  in  the  heart  of  the  Slave  Trade, 
would  lead  them  to  the  cultivation  of  the  land  and  the  ar- 
dour of  the  chase,  as  a more  quiet  and  easy  mode,  of  obtain- 
ing those  articles  of  European  luxury,  wliich  have  become 
almost  necessary  to  their  existence. 

Such  were  the  views  and  intentions  upon  which  the 
American  Society  for  colonizing  the  free  people  of  colour, 
of  the  United  States,  was  instituted.  This  scheme  had  no 
sooner  been  promulgated,  than  an  attack  was  made  upon 
the  purity  of  its  principles.  It  was  thought  by  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  Southern  Section  of  the  Country,  to  be  a Plan, 
generated  in  the  North,  to  operate  against  the  interest  of 
the  South ; and  in  the  North,  it  was  thought  a Southern  pro- 
ject, to  get  rid  of  the  Free  Blacks  ; only  that  they  might 
tighten  the  chains  of  Slavery.  Steady  perseverance,  how. 
ever,  overcame  misrepresentation  and  calumny,  and  they 
both  yielded  to  the  irresistible  force  of  truth  and  humanity. 
A cry  of  visionary  enthusiasm,  was,  however,  still  heard. 
The  constant  exclamation  was,  “show  us  that  your  plans 
are  feasible;  convince  us  that  the  thing  can  be  done.” 

The  Managers  went  to  the  experiment,  elated  with  hope 
and  joy,  and,  after  great  exertion,  fitted  out  an  expedition, 
to  the  Island  of  Sherbro.  Intelligence  from  tliat  expedition, 
of  a most  disastrous  nature,  soon  reached  the  United  States. 


8 


It  viTung  the  heart  of  every  friend  of  tlie  Society,  and 
checked  for  a time  (until  the  true  cause  of  that  melancholy 
misfortune  could  be  clearly  understood)  the  exertions  of 
the  Managers. 

Although  it  was  necessary  at  that  time,  that  the  cause 
should  be  explained,  it  is  not  so  now,  in  the  present  ad- 
vanced state  of  the  Society’s  alFairs.  For  the  pestilence 
of  the  Island  of  Sherbro,  or  the  treachery  and  infamy  of 
Kezzell,  has  no  more  to  do  \\*ith  the  climate  of  Montser- 
rado,  or  the  character  of  its  inhabitants,  than  a Southern  fever 
can  affect  the  State  of  New-Jersey.  I will  not,  therefore, 
dwell  upon  that  scene  of  lamentation  and  grief  longer,  than 
to  pay  a proper  respect  to  the  memory  of  Mills  and  of  Ba- 
con and  the  others,  who  fell  in  the  exercise  of  the  most 
magnanimous  and  disinterested  humanity.  Their  bodies  are 
on  the  Coast,  but  their  memories  are  embalmed  in  the  hearts 
of  their  countrymen.  May  their  names  and  their  exertions 
be  perpetuated,  the  one  for  praise,  and  the  other  for  imi- 
tation. 

On  the  first  intelligence  of  this  disaster,  the  whole  Plan 
was  denounced  as  impracticable,  and  without  looking  into 
the  causes  of  that  melancholy  fatality,  the  opponents  of  the 
Institution  wmuld  persuade,  that  the  Almighty  had  placed  im- 
passible barriers  to  the  civilization  of  Africa  5 and  that,  there- 
fore, the  scheme  of  the  Colonization  Society  must  fail.  But, 
whence  came  this  impoiiant  conclusion,  this  w'ould-be  pro- 
phecy, this  knowledge  of  the  future.  Was  it  the  result  of 
careful  examination,  and  the  deduction  of  sound  philosophy? 
or  did  the  great  Jehovali  let  them  into  the  secrets  of  His 
unfathomable  designs?  or  w^as  it  wTitten  in  the  Sun-beams 
of  the  heavens?  No: — they  would  not  undergo  the  labour  of 
inquiry  and  rational  investigation  5 they  w ere  unw  orthy  of 
inspiration,  nor  had  they  any  knowledge  of  the  future ; but 
it  w^as  the  inveteracy  of  prejudice,  the  violent  eftusions  of 
hasty  thought. 


9 


In  this  distress  tlie  first  attention  of  the  Society  was 
directed  to  a complete  and  impartial  investigation  of  the 
causes  which  produced  it.  Their  misfortune  was  traced  to 
the  deceit  of  persons  in  whom  they  had  a right  to  confide, 
and  to  the  unfortunate  location  of  the  first  Settlement.  They 
arose  from  this  painful  enquiry,  with  minds  harrassed  with 
grief,  but  fortified  by  confidence,  and  relying  upon  that 
Mighty  Power,  who  said:  “Let  there  be  light,  and  there  was 
light they  made  another  appeal  to  their  friends  and  the 
public  ; and  were  enabled  in  the  course  of  a year,  to  obtain 
an  Agent  of  great  enterprise  and  merit,  who  was  directed 
with  a public  vessel  to  assist  him,  to  make  a careful  exami- 
nation of  the  whole  Western  Coast  of  Africa ; to  ascer- 
tain, if  there  M^as  not  some  part  thereof,  which,  from  the 
salubrity  of  its  climate,  and  the  fertility  of  its  soil,  would 
afford  a well-founded  hope,  of  future  prosperity.  The  suc- 
cess which  rewarded  the  courageous  enterprise,  and  the 
disinterested  sacrifices  of  Dr.  Ayres,  is  known  to  the  pub- 
lic, and  as  the  particulars  can  be  found  in  the  Reports  of 
the  Society,  I will  not  detain  you  with  a relation  of  the 
difficulties  and  privations  endured  by  him  ; but  be  satisfied 
with  stating,  that  overcoming  all  those  difficulties  pronounced 
to  be  insurmountable,  he  succeeded  in  establishing  a Co- 
lony at  Cape  Montserrado,  which  is  called  Liberia;  and 
w^hich  is  now  flourishing  and  happy;  and  is  a clear  demon- 
stration of  the  “feasibility  of  the  Plan”  of  the  Coloniz- 
ation Society;  and  a practical  answer  to  the  common  ex- 
clamation, “ convince  us  that  the  thing  can  be  done.” 

The  successful  Establishment  of  the  Colony  at  Liberia, 
has  silenced  all  doubts  in  respect  to  the  practicability 
of  the  Colonizing  system  ; and  the  improbability  of  its 
future  success,  is  now^,  the  principal  ground  of  objection. 
These  doubts  are  founded  cliiefly  upon  the  insalubrity  of 
the  climate;  the  barrenness  of  the  soil;  the  obstacles  to 
its  cultivation;  the  want  of  capacity  in  the  negro;  and  lastly, 
the  great  expense  attending  their  transportation  thither. 

B 


10 


There  is  not  a greater  misapprehension  in  relation  to 
the  whole  of  tliis  matter,  than  that,  which  has  arisen  from 
the  want  of  proper  information,  in  regard  to  the  climate 
of  that  part  of  the  Coast  of  Africa.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
enter  into  any  speculation  upon  that  subject.  It  is  now 
placed  beyond  reasonable  doubt,  by  this  most  convincing 
evidence  — that  the  Colony  of  Liberia  has  been  settled  for 
three  years,  during  which  time,  twenty-five  deaths  only 
have  occurred;  fourteen  by  fever,  five  killed  in  battle,  one 
by  the  falling  of  a tree,  two  drowned,  one  by  mortification, 
and  the  rest,  casualties.  The  greatest  obstinacy  cannot 
ask  more  incontrovertible  proof  on  this  point. 

The  soil  of  that  part  of  the  Coast  of  Africa,  is  exceed- 
ingly fertile.  It  is  capable  of  producing  rice,  cotton,  indigo, 
and  sugar;  and  gold  dust,  hides,  gums,  and  camwood, 
can  be  procured  in  great  abundance. 

The  facilities,  which  are  offered  for  cultivating  the  soil 
at  Liberia,  are  at  this  time  very  great.  For  a few  years 
past,  the  Slave  Trade,  through  which  channel,  as  I before 
mentioned,  the  natives  have  been  in  the  habit  of  receiving 
their  supplies  of  rum,  tobacco,  &c.  &c.  &c.  has  been  much 
interrupted,  and  in  some  places  on  that  coast,  entirely 
stopped  ; for  instance,  at  Liberia  and  its  neighbourhood, 
once  a great  mart  for  that  trade.  This  has  rendered  their 
supplies  precarious  ; the  pressure  of  which  uncertainty  is 
felt  by  all,  and  they  are  desirous  for  some  more  regular 
and  certain  means  of  procuring  those  necessaries,  and  are 
ready  and  willing  to  engage  in  any  employment  offered  to 
them,  by  which  they  may  be  obtained.  There  are  thou- 
sands of  people  there,  whose'  energies  may  be  directed  in 
any  course,  either  good  or  evil.  Enhance  the  value  of^ 
slaves,  by  a brisk  demand,  and  you  will  produce  war,  rapine, 
and  murder.  Create  a demand  for  what  their  soil  can  pro- 
duce, and  they  will  use  the  hoe.  Give  them  a pound  of 
tobacco,  a yard  of  muslin,  a string  of  beads,  a pair  of  slioes. 


11 


or  a hat  in  exchange,  and  you  will  get  the  valuable  prO' 
ductions  of  their  rich  and  fertile  soil. 

As  to  the  intellectual  qualifications  of  the  negro — it  is 
unfair  to  judge  of  him  in  that  respect,  as  he  is  here  seen 
in  "a  state  of  servitude.  At  the  English  Settlements  upon 
the  Coast  of  Africa,  natives  have  been  taught  all  the  me- 
chanic arts, — In  Regent’s  Town  young  natives  are  making 
rapid  progress  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  who,  six 
years  ago,  were  wild  and  ignorant.  It  is  found,  they  acquire 
a knowledge  of  the  Arts  and  Sciences,  with  as  much  faci- 
lity as  any  other  people,  and  it  is  only  here,  in  their  state  of 
degradation,  that  such  a question  has  been  agitated. 

With  regard  to  the  expense  of  transportation,  it  is  not 
by  any  means,  so  great  as  has  been  represented.  I have 
the  authority  of  a letter  from  Dr.  Ayres,  of  whom  I have 
before  spoken,  for  stating,  that  the  last  company  of  one  hund- 
red and  five  persons,  were  taken  out  for  twenty-six  Dollars 
each ; and  when  the  prosperity  of  the  Colony  shall  enable 
them  to  furnish  a return  cargo,  it  will  unquestionably  reduce 
the  average  price  to  a much  lower  rate  ; and  in  fact,  a great 
many  will  be  able  to  work  their  own  passages  as  soon  as  a 
brisk  trade  shall  be  opened  with  the  Colony. 

In  this  manner  of  viewing  the  affairs  of  the  American 
Society  for  Colonizing  the  Free  People  of  colour,  of  the 
United  States ; I think,  you  will  yield  your  hearty  assent, 
to  the  purity  and  philanthropy  of  its  principles.  For, 
you,  no  doubt,  desire  the  Abolition  of  Slavery;  and  are  anx- 
ious for  the  civilization  of  Africa ; and  cannot  but  rejoice 
in  the  destruction  of  the  Slave  Trade.  I think  also  that  you 
must  be  satisfied,  that  the  climate  is  sufficiently  salubrious, 
for  our  black  population;  that  the  soil  is  good  ; that  the  faci- 
lities for  cultivation  and  improvement  are  great ; that  the  in- 
tellect of  the  Negro,  in  a state  of  natural  freedom,  is  strong 
enough;  that  the  expense  of  transportation  is  not  much;  and 
finally,  that  the  Plan  of  the  American  Society  for  Coloniz- 


V 


12 


ing  the  Free  People  of  colour  of  the  United  States,  is  not 
only  practicable,  but  there  is  great  probability,  that,  with 
moderate  assistance  from  the  nation,  it  will  succeed  to  the 
utmost  expectations  of  its  first  friends. 

To  appeal  to  your  feelings  upon  an  occasion  like  the 
present ; and  to  ofter  inducements  to  a popular  Assem- 
bly to  aid  in  so  good  a work,  presents  a fine  field  for 
declamation.  But,  I believe,  there  is  too  much  intelligence 
in  this  Meeting  to  bear  with  such  presumption  from  me  • 
and  that  all  you  require,  is  a fair  understanding  of  the  sub- 
ject ; to  induce  you  to  advocate  with  zeal,  and  alacrity,  the 
views  of  the  Parent  Institution,  and  to  form  a Society,  Aux- 
iliary thereto. 

O.V  JWTIOJV  JUDE  .iXD  SECONDED, 

PROFESSOR  MACLEAN, 

OF  THE  COLLEGE  OF  NEW-JERSEY, 

was  appointed  Secretary  of  this  Meeting. 

The  Constitution,  previously  prepared, 
was  then  read  by  the  Rev.  George  S.  Wood- 
hull. 

A MOTIOX  WAS  MADE  BY 

JAMES  S.  GREEN,  ESQUIRE, 

AjYD  SECOjXBED, 

that  it  be  adopted.  Upon  submitting  the  Motion, 
Mr.  Green  delivered  the  following  Adress. — 

I RISE,  Sir,  to  move,  that  the  Constitution  just  read 
be  adopted  ; and  I cannot  suffer  the  opportunity  to  pass  with- 
out expressing  my  warmest  approbation  of  a Plan,  embracing 


13 


in  it  many  manifest  and  important  advantages  both  to  our  State 
and  our  Country.  I do  not  expect  to  throw  any  new  light 
on  a subject,  rendered  already  luminous  by  the  most  brilliant 
talents  of  the  nation.  I do  not  expect  to  add  another  thrill 
to  feelings  already  warmed  and  excited  by  the  most  power- 
ful appeals ; but  you  will  indulge  me,  while  I attempt  simply 
to  discharge  what  I conceive  to  be  a duty,  obligatory  upon 
me  on  this  occasion,  as  a citizen  of  New-Jersey  and  of  the 
United  States. 

W e all  agree  in  one  position — that  Slavery  can  be  defended 
on  no  rational  ground  whatever ; that  it  involves  a violation 
of  every  law,  human  and  divine ; that  it  is  at  war  with  all 
the  best  feelings  of  our  hearts ; that  the  barbarities  which 
have  been  inflicted  upon  the  degraded  sons  and  daughters  of 
Africa,  are  an  outrage  upon  the  dignity  and  character  of  a 
human  being. 


It  is  known  to  you  and  to  this  respectable  audience,  that 
the  detestable  traffic  with  Africa  in  the  bodies  and  souls 
of  men,  received  its  death-blow  in  the  British  House  of  Com- 
mons, on  the  memorable  2nd  of  April,  1792 ; when  \\  il- 
berforce  and  Pitt  and  Fox  united  the  force  of  their  power- 
ful and  splendid  talents,  to  remove  from  the  national  char- 
acter its  dark  and  bloody  stain.  Even  those  who  were 
interested  in  this  unhallowed  commerce — even  the  agents 
of  the  W est  Indies,  could  not  resist  the  strength  of  their  ar- 
guments, or  steel  their  hearts  against  the  irresistible  influ- 
ence of  their  eloquence.  The  advocates  of  the  Black  Man’s 
rights  demonstrated  that  no  political  necessity,  no  consider- 
ation of  private  benefit,  could  justify  its  continuance  for  a 
single  moment.  W e have  not,  therefore,  to  contend  with  this 
difficulty.  Tlie  public  mind  is  right  on  this  point ; and  Sir, 
by  comparing  the  impediments  which  clogged  the  entrance 
of  the  path  to  the  temple  of  benevolence,  with  those  that 
we  now  meet  with,  we  may  find  much  to  quicken  and  to 
animate  us.  We  have  not  the  embarrassments  of  a first 
effort ; we  have  the  termination  of  our  course  clearly  in 


14 


view ; and  want  nothing  but  patience  and  industry 
and  perseverance,  to  reach  the  vestible — to  enter  the  build- 
ing, and  there  to  sit  down  and  enjoy  the  rich  banquet  of  feel- 
ing and  reflection,  which  is  always  furnished  by  doing  well. 
‘‘Who,”  says  Wilberforce,  “can  tire  in  such  a work.  It 
repays  itself ; it  fills  the  mind  with  complacency  and  peace. 
If  it  obliges  us  to  be  conversant  with  scenes  of  wretchedness, 
this  is  but  like  visiting  a hospital  from  motives  of  humanity, 
where  your  feelings  repay  you  for  the  pain  you  undergo.” 

We  all  agree  too,  that  we  owe  much  to  the  children 
of  Africa  in  the  way  of  remuneration  or  recompense.  Our 
fathers  have  contracted  a great — an  enormous  moral  debt — 
a debt  that  now  incumbers  and  embarrasses  our  whole 
country ; a debt  that  like  a mighty  incubus,  is  pressing  to 
death  the  energies  of  the  nation.  Relief  must  be  had  ; a 
discharge  of  this  debt  must  be  effected,  or  consequences 
absolutely  ruinous  will  ensue.  It  is  believed  to  be  yet 
practicable  to  escape  these  consequences,  if  we  exert  our- 
selves with  energy,  and  without  delay.  But  it  is  high 
time  to  be  up  and  doing;  to  examine  into  our  situation; 
to  call  forth  our  best  exertions  in  united  efforts  -to  avert 
the  ruin  that  otherwise  threatens  us. 

And  now,  Sir,  I am  prepared  to  say  that  the  plan  of 
colonization,  on  which  we  are  met  to  deliberate,  appears  to 
me  to  offer  the  most  eligible, — and  indeed,  so  far  as  I can 
see — the  only  effectual  mode  of  relief.  The  adoption  of 
tliis  plan  will,  I think,  enable  us  in  time  to  pay  what 
we  owe.  It  will  form  a sinking  fund,  by  the  gradual  oper- 
ation of  which,  this  debt  will  be  ultimately  discharged, 
and  we  be  released  forever  from  its  burden.  You  already 
perceive  that  the  view  which  I take  of  this  subject  has 
regard,  as  much  to  our  own  interest  as  to  the  interest 
of  the  blacks.  Such  is  the  fact.  The  excellence  of  the 
plan  proposed  is,  that  it  unites  these  interests ; it  makes 
them  one  and  the  same.  I have  no  hesitation  in  saying 
that,  for  one,  I would  not  advocate  this  plaji,  did  I think 


15 


that  we  were  adding  another  mite  to  the  debt  already 
contracted,  or  another  cruelty  to  that  long  and  disgusting  ca- 
talogue of  wrongs,  at  which  the  eye  of  the  philanthropist  weeps, 
and  the  heart  of  the  benevolent  sickens.  I would  not  raise 
my  voice  in  its  praise,  did  I not  believe,  that  the  plan 
recommends  itself  by  every  consideration,  consistent  at  once 
with  the  calls  of  humanity  and  the  suggestions  of  policy; 
by  the  advancement  of  the  black  man’s  rights,  and  the 
white  man’s  interest  and  easement.  Let  us,  for  a moment, 
bring  this  matter  as  near  as  we  can  to  ourselves.  Let  us 
consider  how  New-Jersey  is  interested  in  this  plan  of 
colonization. — Will  its  adoption  improve  our  situation?  For 
unless  we  can  demonstrate  this,  we  shall,  I fear,  persuade 
but  few  to  lend  us  their  aid.  To  the  State  of  New-Jersey, 
then,  inquiring  how  her  interests  are  concerned  in  this 
business,  I will  endeavour  to  give  an  impartial  and  can- 
did answer. 

We  find  by  the  Census  of  1810,  that  her  Slaves  are 
numbered  at  more  than  ten  thousand,  and  her  free  blacks 
at  more  than  seven  thousand.  This  number  has  increased 
since  that  period,  and  we  find  by  the  Census  of  1820,  that 
the  black  population  of  New-Jersey  is  more  than  twenty 
thousand.  What  a mass  of  ignorance,  misery  and  depra- 
vity, is  here  mingled  with  every  portion  of  our  population, 
and  threatening  the  whole  with  a moral  and  political  pesti- 
lence. My  answer  then  to  the  State  of  New-Jersey  is,  that 
this  enormous  mass  of  revolting  wretchedness  and  deadly 
pollution  will,  it  is  believed,  be  ultimately  taken  out  of  her 
territory,  if  the  plan  of  the  Colonization  Society  be  adopt- 
ed. This  is  the  special  * concern — and  who  will  say  it  is  not 
a most  interesting  concern — which  the  State  of  New-Jersey 
has  in  this  great  national  affair. 

Have  you,  Sir,  ever  looked  at  this  domestic  evil  in 
the  detail  of  its  certain  and  deleterious  consequences } — 
did  you  ever  count  the  number,  one  by  one,  to  ascertain 
and  feel  the  danger,  with  which  we  are  surrounded  ? 


16 


Here  is  a host  of  intlividuals,  shut  out  by  education  or 
prejudice,  from  .all  social  intercourse  with  the  whites ; en- 
tertaining no  natural  feelings  of  sympathy  or  kindness  to- 
wards us  5 utter  outcasts  from  all  the  liighest  privileges  of  free- 
men, and  as  to  most  of  them,  from  all  the  decencies  of  ci\dl- 
ization.  No  ray  of  joy  lights  up  their  countenance,  no 
throb  of  delight  heaves  their  bosoms,  in  view  of  the  growing 
prosperity  and  importance  of  our  country.  It  is  no  con- 
cern of  theirs.  It  brings  no  advantage  to  them.  It  affords 
nothing  to  them  that  is  cheering.  As  to  those  who  are  yet 
in  Slavery,  when  the  cloud  of  misfortune  lowers  upon  the 
affairs  of  their  masters,  no  distress  is  manifested — nay, 
I might  rather  say,  that  oftentimes  a feeling  of  delight  is 
created  ; and  the  thought  crosses  their  discontented  minds 
that  the  judgments  of  Heaven  have  revenged  their  wrongs ; 
that  the  God  of  all  the  earth  hath  at  last  punished  their  op- 
pressors. 

Such  is  the  character,  I do  not  say  of  every  individual, 
but  yet  certainly  of  the  great  majority  of  your  black  popula- 
tion. And  are  we,  Sir,  entirely  safe,  while  we  breathe  the 
same  atmosphere  with  this  powerful  and  discontented  horde  ? 
If  intelligence  should  reach  you,  that  three  thousand  men 
had  landed  on  your  shores,  with  the  avowed  intention  of 
marching  to  this  place,  to  burn  your  buildings,  to  murder 
the  inhabitants,  to  plunder  your  property,  what  stir,  what 
anxiety,  what  exertion  would  every  where  mark  the  vil- 
lage, and  neighbourhood,  and  State;  every, man  would  be 
at  his  post,  and  the  words  ‘coward,’ and  ‘traitor,’  would  be 
marked  in  burning  characters  on  the  forehead  of  every 
one,  who  should  refuse  to  join  in  the  resistance.  But  for 
myself,  I do  verily  believe,  we  have  a more  dangerous  foe 
than  this  to  contend  with  ; a foe  under  the  disguise  of  slave 
or  servant ; one  who  is  admitted  without  reserve  into  the 
bosom  of  our  families ; one  to  whom  we  often  commit  the 
custody  of  our  dwellings ; one  to  whom  we  frequently  con- 
fide the  care  of  our  children,  and  yet  one  who  secretly  and 
cordially  hates  and  despises  the  hand  that  feeds  and  main- 


17 


tains  him.  We  all  know  that  a foe  in  disguise  is  more 
dangerous  than  an  open  enemy.  Against  the  last  we  can 
inarch,  meet,  face,  and  conquer  him.  The  other  is  silent ; 
his  approach  is  unobserved  5 and  the  first  notice  that  we 
may  recieve  of  his  hostile  intention  may  be  cries  and 
dying  groans,  or  the  midnight-conflagration  of  our  dwel- 
lings. 

But  it  may  be  asked — is  there  not  a prospect — that  by 
education,  and  an  increase  of  the  immunities  which  the 
blacks  already  enjoy,  their  habits,  and  feelings  may  be 
improved?  Alas,  Sir,  I am  most  unwillingly  compelled 
to  say,  in  reply,  that  every  day’s  observation  and  experience 
teach  us,  tliat,  with  a few  honourable  exceptions,  they 
degenerate  in  proportion  as  they  are  indulged.  You 
may  make  them  free,  but  you  make  them  worthless. 

By  some  this  is  thought  singular,  and  not  susceptible 
©f  an  explanation.  To  me,  the  explanation  seems  easy.  By 
the  policy  and  habits  of  the  country,  the  blacks  are  com- 
pletely excluded  from  every  post  of  honour  and  profit  5 
they  are  denied  all  alliance  with  the  whites,  either  in  busi- 
ness or  by  marriage;  they  are  almost  shut  out  from  every 
employment  of  a liberal  character;  in  a word,  they  are 
hopelessly  precluded  from  ever  becoming  distinguished 
in  church  or  state.  Now,  by  such  means  you  destroy  all 
the  usual  incentives  to  industry  and  emulation,  and  prov- 
ident foresight,  and  even  to  virtue.  The  slave  is  a mere 
animal,  robbed  of  all  the  nobler  feelings  of  our  nature, 
unmoved  by  the  calls  of  ambition  or  the  suggestions  of 
prudence,  and  a freed  negro,  who  must  always  be  a proscribed 
individual,  is  really  but  little  better.  He  is  sunk  below 
the  level  of  the  community  around  him,  and  he  becomes 
the  creature  of  the  moment.  You  have  left  him  no  wish, 
but  that  of  the  present  hour,  to  be  gratified.  If  the  day 
is  past  with  him,  and  he  has  had  meat  and  drink  and 
doathing ; this  is  his  all.  Hence  you  find,  with  an  ex- 

c; 


18 


ception  here  and  there,  that  negroes  are  improvident,  and  care- 
less; if  free,  working  but  little  during  the  summer,  and 
living  by  plunder  and  begging  during  the  winter ; — if  slaves, 
no  way  attentive  to  the  interests  of  their  owners,  and 
working  more  from  the  fear  of  correction,  than  the  impulse 
of  duty.  It  is  not  wonderful — it  must  be  apparent — that  the 
circumstances  I have  mentioned,  must  have  a natural,  un- 
avoidable, powerful,  and  pernicious  effect  upon  the  whole 
of  our  black  population. 

How  is  it  that  a freeman — I speak  now  of  a man 
who  is  truly  and  entirely  free ; the  man  who  is  admitted  to  all 
the  rights  and  priveliges  of  the  citizen — how  is  it  that  such 
a man,  with  small  capital,  with  little  to  begin  with,  amasses 
in  a few  years,  sufficient  property  to  place  him  above  want  ? 
Why  Sir,  he  rises  early  and  sits  up  late ; he  works  hard ; 
and  the  money  he  earns  he  lays  by,  or  employs  it  with 
prudence  and  caution  in  the  business  he  has  embarked  in. 
He  is  encouraged  to  all  this  by  the  hope  and  wish,  that 
his  family  may  be  placed  on  vantage  ground ; that  his  child- 
dren  maybe  educated;  that  plenty  may  smile  around  him; 
and  that  the  evening  of  his  days  may  not  be  overcast  with 
the  clouds  of  poverty  and  distress.  Here  is  the  obvious  cause, 
why  he  so  often  rises  from  the  plainness  of  mediocrity  to 
the  splendour  of  affluence.  He  works  for  himself  and 
Saves  for  himself  But  the  exact  reverse  of  all  this  takes 
place  with  the  slave  ; and  in  a great  measure  with  him,  who, 
while  he  is  called  a free  man,  is  yet  more  than  half  a slave  in 
reality.  He  works  for  another  and  consumes  for  himself  He 
has  no  motive  to  save.  He  is  to  derive  no  essential  be- 
nefit from  it.  All  he  can  receive  is  the  support  of  animal 
existence  ; and  of  this  he  thinks  he  is  certain.  It  is  the  interest 
of  his  master  to  secure  him  this.  In  a word,  slavery  is  a soil 
in  which  industry,  and  generosity,  and  ambition,  necessarily 
wither  and  die  ; and  this  takes  place  in  every  state  which  ap- 
proaches slavery,  just  in  proportion  to  the  degree  of  approxi- 
ination, 


19 


We  have  upon  our  statute  book  a law,  which  by  a 
slow  but  certain  process,  is  ultimately  to  emancipate  the 
whole  black  population  of  our  State.  I allude  to  that 
law  which  declares  every  child  born  of  a slave  within  this 
State,  after  the  4th  July  1804,  free, — completely  emancipated; 
reserving  to  the  owner  of  the  mother  an  interest  in  its  services 
for  a limited  period.  This  law  has  been  in  force  for  twenty 
years,  and  its  silent  but  powerful  operation  may  be  observed  by 
all,  by  comparing  the  Census  of  1810  with  the  Census  of  1820. 
By  the  first,  the  slaves  of  New-Jersey  are  numbered  at  10,851, 
by  the  second  at  7,557,  exhibiting  a decrease  of  2,294  in  ten 
years.  The  free  blacks  are  estimated  at  7,843  in  1810,  and 
at  12,460  in  1820,  making  an  increase  of  4,617  in  ten  years. — 
Look  abroad  through  the  State,  and  but  few,  very  few  ancient 
negroes  meet  the  eye.  The  most,  if  not  the  whole  of  them,  have 
descended  to  the  grave ; and  its  silence  has  hushed  forever 
tlieir  lamentations.  But  extend  your  view  into  futurity  ; look 
forward  for  twenty  years  to  come,  and  recollect  that  your  black 
population  will  then  all  be  free — no  longer  under  the  chains 
of  slavery  ; completely  independant ; with  no  other  restraint 
than  the  law.  Yes,  and  you  will  then  have,  without  exaggera- 
tion, a black  population  amounting  to  at  least  twenty-five 
thousand  individuals,  and  every  one  of  them  excluded  by  your 
laws  from  all  participation  in  the  government — made  to  bear 
a portion  of  its  burdens,  and  yet  allowed  no  part  in  the  election 
of  those  who  impose  these  burdens.  This,  it  may  be  recollect- 
ed, was  the  very  ground  of  our  complaint  against  Great  Brit- 
tain, which  brought  on  the  war  of  our  Independence.  There 
is  intelligence  enough  among  the  blacks  to  be  fully  apprised  of 
tliis  facL  and  at  the  period  contemplated  it  will  not  fail  to  be 
urged.  Yet  the  plea  will  not  be  admitted — and  what  will  be 
the  consequence  ? Refusal  will  beget  resentment,  and  re- 
sentment will  produce  resistance  to  taxation,  and  resistance 
to  taxation  will  bring  in  the  civil  authority  to  enforce  the  law, 
and  the  civil  authority  will  eventually  be  resisted  with 
arms  by  the  blacks,  and  arms  will  be  repelled  with  arms  by 
the  whites.  Here  is  the  natural  process,  by  which  we  may 
be  involved  in  all  the  evils  of  a civil  and  servile  war — And 


20 


if  such  a \var  shall  take  place,  it  ouglit  to  be  remembered 
that  it  will  be  with  “ a foe,  whom  no  recollections  of  former 
kindness  will  soften,  and  Avhom  the  remembrance  of  severi- 
ty will  goad  to  phrenzy.”  You  will  not  understand  me  as  say- 
ing that  this  issue  of  things  is  certain^  even  if  no  measures 
are  taken  with  a view  to  prevent  it.  But  I declare  to  you, 
Sir,  that  I think  it  more  'probable,  than  many  occurrences 
in  which  the  negroes  have  actually  been  concerned  within 
the  memory  of  us  all. 

But  perhaps  there  are  those, — and  there  are  T believe  a few 
such  in  the  State,  who  will  reply  to  all  this  by  saying,  that  they 
would  remove  the  whole  of  these  objections  and  obstacles  at 
once,  by  admitting  the  blacks  to  a full  and  perfect  participa- 
tion of  all  the  immunities,  privileges,  and  honours,  of  the  white 
population.  This  may  be  said.  Sir,  but  I seriously  doubt, 
whether  there  are  three  white  persons  in  the  State,  who  would 
really  and  truly  act  upon  this  plan.  Nay,  I seriously  doubt,  whe- 
ther there  is  one  white  father  or  mother  in  New-Jersey,  who 
would  be  willing,  that  a son  or  a daughter  should  contract  mar- 
liage  with  the  best  educated  negro,  male  or  female,  that  now  ex- 
ists. And  what  do  you  think.  Sir,  of  a black  Governor,  a black 
Chief  Justice,  a black  member  of  Congress,  a black  member  of 
the  Legislature,  a black  Justice  of  the  Peace,  or  even  a black 
Lawyer.  I appeal  to  you,  and  to  every  individual  in  this  As- 
sembly, whether  the  very  naming  of  these  things,  does  not 
excite  feelings  which  demonstrate  that  they  could  not,  at  least 
for  a long  time  to  come,  be  realized  among  us.  No  Sir, 
they  cannot. — Call  it  folly,  to  be  frightened  by  the  word  blacky 
prejudice  to  hate  a black  skin;  the  mere  eftect  of  education  to 
seperate  this  race  so  widely  from  ourselves.  I admit  it  all. 
But  still  the  fact  is  so,  and  you  cannot  help  it.  You  must  put 
the  blacks  by  themselves  and  they  must  make  a society  of  their 
own,  if  they  to  be  real  freemen.  Humanity,  as  well  as 
justice,  calls  for  this.  For  among  the  whites  of  this  country, 
they  will  be  treated  for  some  generations  to  come,  if  not  forever, 
as  inferior  beings. 


21 


It  seems  to  me  to  deserve  particular  consideration,  that 
the  law  to  which  I have  already  alluded,  enacts,  that  no  ne- 
gro shall  thereafter  be  removed  or  carried  out  of  the  State,  ex- 
cept in  particular  cases — alone  applicable  to  the  owners  of 
slaves  who  intend  to  remove  permanently  from  New-Jersey ; 
and  then,  upon  such  conditions  as  almost  amount  to  a 
prohibition.  Hence  you  perceive,  that  all  our  black  popu- 
lation, with  all  its  increase,  is  in  a sort  entailed  upon  us 5 
and  this  in  time  will  produce  an  evil  too  intolerable  to  be 
borne.  Let  not  this  be  called  a visionary  speculation. 
Look  at  a few  of  the  consequences  of  emancipating  slaves, 
as  they  are  already  exhibited  day  after  day  before  your  eyes. 
Look  into  the  streets  of  your  village,  and  there — in  the  drunk- 
enness, and  quarrels,  and  riots,  of  worthless  and  idle  negroes — 
you  percieve  in  miniature,  what  you  must  suffer  in  a ten- 
fold degree,  when  the  laws  in  question  shall  have  had  their 
full  operation  and  effeet. 

There  is  another  consideration  suggested  by  the  effect 
of  these  laws  worthy  of  attention.  I allude  to  our  liability 
to  support  the  blacks  as  paupers.  At  the  period — not,  as 
we  have  seen  very  far  distant — when  all  our  blacks  will  be 
free  under  the  law  as  it  now  stands,  and  as  I hope 
it  will  always  stand,  they  are  entitled  to  a support  either 
in  the  township  where  they  are  born,  or  in  that  township  where 
they  have  served  seven  years.  In  fact,  they  are  placed  by  this 
law  upon  the  same  footing  with  the  whites.  The  support  in 
question  is  derived  from  funds,  created  by  taxation, 
which  will  necessarily  fall  with  its  principal  weight  upon 
the  whites  ; and  from  what  we  have  already  learned  from 
observation  and  from  the  inspection  of  our  pauper  lists,  it 
is  not  predicting  too  much  to  say,  that  twenty  years  hence 
we  must,  if  no  change  of  circumstances  take  place,  sup- 
port one  half  of  this  degraded  population. 

Wliat  is  the  fruitful  source  of  pauperism  ? — l"his  sub- 
ject has  engaged  the  talents  and  been  submitted  to  the  inves- 
tigation, of  some  of  the  wisest  and  best  men  of  the  age. 


And  however  they  may  differ  upon  minor  points,  they  all  agree 
in  this,  that  paupers  increase  in  p7'oportion  to  the  ease  with 
which  relief  is  obtained;  and  that  those  soonest  apply  for 
relief  who  have  lost  their  pride  and  ambition  ; who  have 
abandoned  all  sentiments  of  shame;  whose  character  is 
gone,  and  who  are  only  anxious  to  sustain  their  animal  exist- 
ence. And  is  not  this  the  very  description  of  your  emancipat- 
ed black  population  ? You  exclude  them  from  your  company  and 
conversation,  and  by  this  you  make  them  indifferent  to  your 
opinion ; you  shut  them  out  from  all  places  of  profit  and 
honour,  and  by  this  you  make  them  destitute  of  shame.  From 
general  sentiment,  or  from  prejudice,  or  whatever  you  may 
please  to  call  it,  they  are  precluded  from  that  kind  of 
intercourse  and  alliance,  which  gives  birth  to  noble  and  eleva- 
ted feelings — to  that  niceness  and  quickness  of  sensibility  which 
spurns  assistance,  as  long  as  personal  exertion  can  secure  a 
livelihood.  You  at  once  destroy  the  whole  train  of  thoughts, 
feelings  and  aftections,  which  now  makes  the  list  of  your  white 
paupers  so  moderate.  There  will  be  to  the  black,  no  harsh- 
ness or  humiliation  in  the  name  of  pauper.  His  cheek  will 
not  burn  when  pointed  at  as  the  object  of  public  charity  : 
may  I not  rather  say,  that  he  will  be  quickened  in  his  appli- 
cation for  relief  by  the  thought,  that  it  is  to  come  from  the 
purse  of  the  whites;  that  he  is  only  to  .receive  a small  return, 
for  the  many  labours  and  groans  that  his  ancestors,  as  well  as 
himself,  have  sustained  and  uttered  in  the  bondage  of  their 
task-masters.  Who  does  not  perceive  the  eftect  of  this  con- 
sideration ? W^hy  Sir,  I have  myself  heard  a black  declare 
that  she  would  not  work,  because  her  master’s  estate  or  the 
public  must  maintain  her. 

Do  not  understand  me  as  speaking  against  the  laws  to 
which  I have  alluded.  They  are  humane  and  just  laws  ; but 
I do  say,  that  they  offer  a strong  and  powerful  argument  in 
support  of  the  plan  proposed.  I do  not  wish  them  repealed, 
but  in  the  march  of  improvement,  let  us  adopt  some  measure 
to  relieve  ourselves  from  a burden  which  our  humanity  has 
imposed.  Having  done  justice  to  the  blacks,  let  us  do  jus- 


23 


tice  to  ourselves ; having  purged  our  character  of  a moral 
stain,  let  us  secure  ourselves  from  danger  5 having  acted  as 
Christians,  let  us  be  prudent  as  citizens  5 let  us  do  this,  lest 
we  cherish  a serpent,  which,  after  being  warmed  and  invigo* 
rated  by  our  kindness,  may  inflict,  by  its  sting  and  poison,  a 
dangerous  and  deadly  wound. 

It  seems  to  me  perfectly  obvious  then,  that  nothing  short 
of  an  actual  removal  of  the  blacks  from  among  us,  will  fur- 
nish relief  to  a dreadful  disease,  which  slavery  has  brought 
on  the  body  politic.  Preventives,  and  sedatives,  and  altera- 
tives will  not  do.  Nothing  but  total  amputation  will  effect 
a cure. 

New-Jersey  is  then  deeply  interested  in  this  matter. 

I have  already  trespassed  so  long  upon  your  indulgence, 
that  I shall  not  detain  you  furtlier  than  to  answer  very  briefly, 
an  objection  or  two  that  have  been  urged  against  the  plan. 

An  opinion  has  prevailed,  and  prevailed  much  to  the  pre- 
judice of  the  contemplated  measure,  that  the  whole  of  the 
country  on  the  Coast  of  Africa,  and  more  particularly,  that 
part  selected  for  the  Colony,  is  little  more  than  a barren 
waste,  where  vegetation  seldom  cheers  the  eye,  where  dis- 
ease, in  its  most  frightful  form,  meets  every  visitor,  w^here  there 
are  none  of  the  means  for  domestic  comfort,  and  where  there  is 
no  prospect  of  improvement.  From  the  know  n force  of  these 
suggestions,  the  advocates  of  the  plan  are  met  with  an  argu- 
ment, addressed  to  their  hearts,  and  urged  powerfully  on  all 
their  humane  feelings.  They  are  told  that  to  send  the  blacks 
to  such  a country,  is  to  send  them  to  their  graves  ; that  while 
the  advocates  of  the  plan  profess  that  they  are  advancing 
the  cause  of  humanity,  they  are  virtually  sacrificing  every 
thing  that  is  dear,  and  sacred,  and  interesting  to  the  blacks— 
that  this  country  may  be  released  from  the  burden  of  their 
support,  but  that  it  is  at  the  appalling  expense  of  their  lives 
or  at  least  of  all  their  comfort  j that  we  give  them  freedom 


24 


only  to  render  their  situation  ten  times  more  dreadful.  Now,  if 
this  be  true,  the  plan  ought  to  be  abandoned  at  once,  and 
abandoned  for  ever.  But  Sir,  the  information  received  in  this 
country  from  sources  that  are  beyond  suspicion  ; from  men  of 
the  brightest  honour  and  strictest  integrity,  and  most  unsullied 
truth ; from  men  who  have  embarked  in  this  work  of  huma- 
nityj  from  the  purest  motives  ; from  men  who  have  visited 
the  spot  and  were  eye-witnesses  to  what  they  narrate — who 
have  made  accurate  and  close  observations  on  the  manners 
and  customs  of  the  inhabitants,  on  the  soil,  on  the  climate, 
the  water  and  productions  of  the  country — I say  the  inform- 
ation derived  from  such  sources',  proves  beyond  all  contra- 
diction, that  Africa  is  not  far  behind  other  countries  and 
other  climes,  in  fertility  of  soil,  in  excellence  of  water,  in 
salubrity  of  air,  in  variety  of  vegetation,  in  number  of  domes- 
tic animals — not  in  fine  in  any  thing,  which  by  proper  culture 
and  attention  is  essential  to  the  convenience,  comfort  and 
support  of  life. 

You,  Sir,  are  among  those,  wdio  have  visited  this  region; 
and  I appeal  for  the  truth  of  my  statement  to  your  owm  per- 
sonal observation ; I appeal  to  those  present  who  have  con- 
versed with  Dr.  Ayres,  the  Agent  of  the  Society,  who  but  a 
few  days  since  was  at  this  place  ; I appeal  to  the  journal  of 
Mr.  Bacon,  which  is  before  the  public  ; and  to  the  eloquent 
and  luminous  article  in  the  North  American  Review.  All 
these  authorities,  with  others  that  might  be  named,  bear  out 
completely  the  justice  of  the  statement  that  I have  made. 

Another  objection  urged  against  this  plan  is,  that  the  ne- 
gros  themselves  do  not  possess  either  force  of  intellect  or 
stability  of  character,  to  furnish  proper  materials  for  a regu- 
lar government.  But  let  it  be  observed,  that  the  plan  pro- 
posed is  not  to  be  understood  as  recommending  the  immediater 
emancipation  of  every  black  in  the  State,  and  raising  him 
at  once  to  all  the  immunities  of  a member  of  an  organized 
government.  We  admit  that  to  do  this  would  indeed  be, 
as  has  been  said,  “ to  let  in  the  full  light  of  freedom  on  his 


25 


eves  scarce  unsealed  from  the  scales  of  bondage  and  would 
be  to  set  before  the  Slave,  an  advantage,  which  he  is  not 
competent  to  comprehend,  which  he  would  seize  in  ima- 
gination as  the  infant  grasps  at  the  object  of  his  desire, 
without  comprehending  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  its 
attainment.”  But  the  plan,  we  contemplate,  furnishes  an 
opportunity  to  those  already  prepared  by  instruction  to  enjoy 
in  the  land  of  their  forefathers  all  the  advantages  of  civil 
society,  and  to  prepare  others  for  these  advantages  as  fast 
as  shall  be  found  practicable.  AVe  will,  however,  never 
admit  that  the  blacks,  vhen  removed  from  the  degraded 
situation  in  which  they  are  placed,  are  destitute  of  those 
powers  of  mind  necessary  to  constitute  the  members  of 
a well  ordered  society.  I appeal  again,  Sir,  to  your  own 
observation  on  this  point.  Do  they  not,  when  the  pressure 
is  removed,  possess  as  much  elasticity  of  mind,  as  the  whites? 
And  may  we  not  fairly  attribute  all  their  dulness  and  stupi- 
dity to  their  want  of  a proper  stimulus,  to  their  exclusion 
from  all  those  excitements  and  encouragements  which  are 
found,  and  only  found  in  a state  of  real  freedom  and  under 
the  advantages  of  a favourable  education? 

But  I hear  it  objected,  that  this  will  take  time.  Yes>  Sir, 
it  will  and  a considerable  time  too;  and  for  this  very  reason  we 
ought  to  begin  immediately.  AVe  ought  not  to  abandon  a mea- 
sure of  justice  and  benevolence  because  we  may  not  live 
to  witness  its  full  accomplishment.  Let  those,  who  have 
not  observed  the  long  continued  labours  of  the  negroes’ 
friend  examine  for  a moment'  the  little  prospect  of  success 
that  cheered  him  in  his  first  attempts  ; and  when  he  has  done 
so,  let  him  compare  the  effects  of  the  first  efforts  with  their 
results  as  at  present  exhibited.  AAliy,  Sir,  the  horrors  of  the 
prison  ship,  w here  the  wretched  negroes  could  scarcely  breathe, 
were  pleaded  for,  and  stoutly  defended,  till  the  champion  of 
the  black  man’s  rights,  obtained  their  absolute  prohibition. 
One  grievance  was  redressed  after  another,  till  the  blacks 
came  at  last  to  be  treated  in  some  measure,  not  as  brutes,  but 
as  men.  So  it  will  be  with  this  plan.  Its  benefits  w^ill  be 

D 


progressive  and  at  first  perhaps  small.  You  may  send  but  few 
at  first,  but  the  number  will  increase  year  by  year,  and  we 
trust,  that  we  shall  at  length  find  exhibited  in  regard  to  our 
Colony,  what  was  exhibited  in  regard  to  the  first  settlement 
of  this  country. 

On  the  whole,  I am  satisfied,  that  this  plan  will  ultimately 
succeed.  All  that  it  wants  is  a full  understanding  on  the 
part  of  the  public.  If  the  feelings  of  an  intelligent  commu- 
nity receive  the  right  direction,  if  they  flow  in  a proper  chan- 
nel, they  will,  before  long,  reach  the  general  government;  the 
plan  will  become  national  property,  and  we  shall  see  the  peo- 
ple rising  as  one  man  to  join  in  its  advancement.  Let  us  not 
then  give  up  our  efforts,  but  in  the  language  of  Pitt,  “ listen 
to  the  voice  of  reason  and  duty,  and  pursue  the  line  of  con- 
duct they  prescribe,  and  some  of  us  may  live  to  see  the  re- 
verse of  that  picture  from  which  we  now  turn  our  eyes  with 
shame  and  regret.  We  may  live  to  behold  the  natives  of  Af- 
rica and  her  reclaimed  children^  engaged  in  the  calm  occupa- 
tions of  industry,  in  the  pursuits  of  ajust  and  legitimate  com- 
merce. We  may  behold  the  beams  of  science  and  philosophy, 
breaking  in  upon  their  land,  which  at  some  happy  period 
in  still  later  times,  may  blaze  with  full  lustre ; and  joining 
their  influence  to  that  of  pure  religion  may  illuminate  and 
invigorate  the  most  distant  extremities  of  that  immense 
continent.  Then  may  we  hope,  that  even  Africa,  though 
last  of  all  the  quarters  of  the  globe  shall  enjoy,  at  length, 
in  the  evening  of  her  days,  those  blessings,  which  have  de- 
scended so  plentifully  upon  us  in  a much  earlier  period  of  the 
world  1” 


REV.  DR.  MILLER 

then  rose  and  said, 

THAT  after  the  truly  interesting  and  eloquent 
addresses  to  which  the  Meeting  had  listened,  he  did  not 
feel  as  if  any  thing  he  could  say,  would  be  likely  either 


27 


to  engage  or  to  reward  attention.  He  had  risen,  therefore, 
not  with  the  design  of  saying  a word  himself  on  the  im- 
portant subject  under  consideration;  but  solely  for  the  pur- 
pose of  introducing  to  the  Meeting  a reverend  and  respected 
Gentleman  then  present — a Friend  and  accredited  Agent 
of  the  American  colonization  Society ; — who  was  on  a 
journey,  one  object  of  which  was  the  promotion  of  its  in- 
terests ; — and  who,  he  hoped,  would  be  so  obliging  as  to 
make  such  communications  to  the  Meeting  as  he  should 

judge  proper. He  referred  to  the  Rev.  George  Boyd, 

of  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Boyd  then  arose  and  addressed  the  Meeting, 
and  we  have  to  regret,  that  we  are  unable  to  pre- 
sent the  public  with  the  interesting  remarks  and  im- 
portant suggestions  made  by  him. 

He  was  followed  by 

REV.  DR.  GREEN, 

who  addressed  the  Meeting  as  follows : — 

Mr.  Chairman, 

As  I am  not  at  present  an  inhabitant 
of  this  village,  perhaps  I ought  not  to  open  my  lips  on  this 
occasion.  But  it  has  occurred  to  me  that  the  subject  under 
discussion  is  not  one  of  merely  local  interest.  It  is  one  in 
which  every  citizen  of  the  United  States  is,  and  ought  to 
feel  himself,  deeply  concerned.  With  your  pennission,  there- 
fore, I shall  offer  a few  obseiwations — and  I intend  they  shall 
be  but  few — chiefly  on  a point  which  has  not  been  touched 
by  the  gentlemen  who  have  preceeded  me,  and  which  in  my 
judgment  is  worthy  of  attention. 

It  appears  that  there  are  two  plans  at  this  time  before 
the  public,  for  diminishing  or  drawing  off  the  coloured  popu- 


26 


lation  of  the  United  States.  The  one  is,  to  colonize  tins  po- 
pulation on  the  Western  Coast  of  Africa  ; the  other  is  to 
add  this  population  to  that  of  a similar  complexion,  which 
is  already  organized  into  a form  of  government,  in  the  Island 
of  Hajti.  I have  not  been  able  to  see  that  these  plans  are 
at  all  inconsirtent  with,  or  necessarily  hostile  to  each  other  ; 
and  it  is  not  v/ithout  regret  that  I have  observed  that  some  of 
their  friends,  severally,  have  considered  and  represented  them 
as  militating.  On  the  contrary,  it  has  appeared  to  me  really 
desirable,  that  there  should  be  more  places  than  one,  to  which 
the  descendants  of  Africans,  who  leave  our  couutry,  may 
betake  themselves.  It  has  appeared  desirable — since  we 
know  tliat  different  individuals  are  influenced  by  very  dif- 
ferent views  and  motives- — ^that  there  should  be  some  option 
left  to  the  emigrants,  as  to  the  place  of  resort  which  may  best 
Suit  their  various  inclinations.  To  whatever  place  they  go, 
they  leave  this  country  ; and  the  more  numerous  the  places 
of  refuge  or  expatriation,  the  greater  probably  will  be  the 
number  that  will  leave  us ; and  thus  a principal  object  of 
regard,  with  vhe  favourers  of  both  plans,  will  be  obtained.  Not 
Sir,  that  minds  truly  benevolent  will  be  satisfied  to  rid  this 
country  of  its  ccl cured  population,  without  any  regard  to 
the  happiness  t>r  well-being  of  the  emigrants.  We  have  done 
them  and  their  ancestors  one  flagrant  injury  already,  in  bring- 
ing them  from  their  own  country  ; and  no  man  of  humanity 
can  think  with  satisfaction  of  doing  them  another,  in  send- 
ing them  from  this.  They  ought  never  to  be  sent  away, 
'but  by  their  own  voluntary  choice.  We  must  point  them  to 
a place  of  retirement,  which  shall  offer  them  so  many  ad- 
vantages above  what  the}"  can  ever  enjoy  in  this  country,  that 
they  will  gladly  seek  it  for  themselves.  But  the  more  places 
you  open  to  their  view,  the  more  you  will  consult,  as  I have 
said,  that  variety  of  motive  and  propensity,  the  gratification 
of  which  constitutes  happiness ; and  which,  the  more  it  can  be 
consulted,  the  more  rapidly  will  voluntary  emigration  take 
place. 

There  is  however,  I admit,  one  consideration  which  may 


29 


and  ought  to  have  a deep  influence  on  the  real  friends  of  the 
African  race  in  this  whole  business.  I have  hinted  at  it  al- 
ready, and  will  now  dwell  upon  it  a little  more  particularly. 
Both  Ha\i:i,  and  the  Settlement  proposed  at  Liberia,  on  the 
African  Coast,  are  places,  the  real  state  and  circumstances  of 
which  can  be  known  to  our  coloured  people,  only  by  inform- 
ation ; and  to  give  them  false  information,  in  regard  to  ei- 
ther, would  be  cruel  and  wicked  in  the  extreme.  If  those  who 
go  to  either,  should  find  a place,  exceedingly  different  from 
what  had  been  represented  to  them  here,  and  from  which  re- 
presentation they  had  sought  it  as  a place  of  permanent  resi- 
dence for  themselves  and  their  offspring,  their  disappoint- 
ment would  be  grievous,  and  the  guilt  of  those  who  had  de- 
ceived them  would  be  great.  Intentional  deception  ' ought 
not  to  be  imputed  to  the  favourers  of  either  of  the  plans 
contemplated.  The  characters  of  those  who  take  a leading 
part  in  promoting  both,  should  save  them  from  any  such  im- 
putation. But  men  often  take  a warm  interest  in  a scheme 
before  they  have  well  examined  it ; and  afterw'ards  they  see 
every  thing  through  the  medium  of  strong  prejudice,  and 
hence  deceive  both  themselves  and  others. 

Now,  Sir,  in  regard  to  Hayti,  w^e  all  know'  that  it  is  much 
more  contiguous  to  our  owm  country  than  the  Coast  of  Af- 
rica ; the  climate  is  represented  as  healthy ; much  of  its  soil 
is  said  to  be  very  favourable  to  cultivation ; and  the  offers  of 
its  chief  magistrate  are,  in  many  respects  liberal  and  alluring. 
These  certainly  are  circumstances  and  considerations  of  a 
very  favourable  kind. 

But  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  Hayti  can  never  receive 
one  third  of  the  coloured  population  of  the  United  States,  if 
it  w ere  prepared  to  embark  to-morrow ; and  therefore  it  is 
plain  that  this  can  never  be  the  great  reservoir,  into  w Inch  the 
streams  of  this  population  can  empty  themselves  for  a cen- 
tury to  come.  If  other  circumstances,  therefore,  were  satis- 
factory, I would  say,  let  those  who  choose  to  go  to  Hayti  de- 
part in  peace,  and  as  speedily  as  possible.  The  friends  of 


30 


the  African  plan  need  not  speak  against  this.  Their  plan  is 
still  just  as  necessary  as  if  the  other  had  never  been  conceiv- 
ed, and  they  ought  to  pursue  it  with  just  as  much  zeal  and 
steadiness  as  if  Hayti  had  no  existence. 

But  I cannot  forbear  to  say  that  there  are  some  considera- 
tions in  regard  to  Hayti,  which  appear  to  me  to  wear  a very 
forbidding  aspect.  Of  these  considerations  I shall  mention  only 
one,  which  I the  rather  select  because,  if  I am  not  in  error  on 
the  subject,  it  is  grounded  on  a public  and  authentic  docu- 
ment ; and  because,  as  a friend  and  minister  of  religion,  I feel 
a deeper  interest  in  it  than  in  any  other.  You  anticipate  that 
it  is  a religious  consideration  to  which  I refer — It  is  so.  And 
you  will  allow  me  to  remark  that  every  real  friend  of  religion 
must  regard  its  interests  and  concerns,  as  of  infinitely  greater 
moment  than  any  which  relate  only  to  this  transitory  life. 
Christianity,  in  its  genuine  spirit  is,  in  my  estimation,  deci- 
sively opposed  to  slavery,  of  every  description  and  degree. 
Nor  is  it  regardless  of  any  of  the  temporal  concerns  of  the 
human  race.  It  seeks  in  every  proper  way  to  alleviate  and 
prevent  suffering,  and  to  promote  the  happiness  of  mankind 
in  the  present  life.  It  was  the  character  of  its  divine  Author 
that  “ he  went  about  doing  good.” — Doing  good  to  the  bodies 
as  well  as  the  souls  of  men.  But  still  it  is  true,  that  real 
Christianity,  considering  time  as  bearing  no  proportion  to  eter- 
nity makes  nothing  of  all  the  miseries  and  sufferings,  or  of  all 
the  prosperity  and  felicities  of  the  “ life  which  now  is,”  in  com- 
parison with  those  “of  the  life  which  is  to  come.”  It  views 
slavery  itself  as  a transient  evil,  not  of  the  highest  import- 
ance to  him,  who,  while  he  is  a Slave,  is  still  “ the  Lord’s 
freeman.”  It  necessarily  results  from  tliis,  that  the  real 
friends  of  religion,  in  providing  for  the  emancipation  and  emi- 
gration of  the  children  of  Africa,  will  be  most  of  all  con- 
cerned for  their  spiritual  welfare,  in  the  desirable  change  of 
condition  which  they  are  about  to  realize.  Now,  if  I have 
not  mistaken — and  I sincerely  wish  I may  have  mistaken — 
what  the  chief  magistrate  of  Hayti  has  authorized  his  agent  to 
say,  on  the  subject  of  religion — ^he  announces  a restriction,  to 


SI 


which  I know  not  how’  any  practical  Christian,  any  one  who  is 
sensible  of  the  worth  of  souls  and  of  his  own  supreme  allegiance 
to  his  Saviour,  ever  can  submit.  The  restriction  to  which  I allude 
is  couched  in  measured  and  guarded  language,  but  yet  it  appears 
to  come  clearly  to  this-that  the  emigrants  to  Hayti  may  hold  and 
act  on  their  own  religious  creed  without  molestation,  provided 
they  do  not  endeavour  to  propagate  their  sentiments  among 
others.  To  this  provision  it  seems  to  me  that  no  real  Christian 
can  consisently  subscribe — at  least  not  as  a permanent  rule  of 
life.  What,  Sir,  can  a true  disciple  of  the  Redeemer  see 
multitudes  around  him  crowding,  as  he  verily  believes,  to 
eternal  perdition,  and  never  say  or  do  any  thing  to  save 
them  from  “ the  wrath  to  come!”  It  is  impossible.  He  will 
feel  that  he  is  sacredly  bound,  by  a publication  of  the  truth, 
by  argument  and  persuasion,  and  by  every  friendly  endeavour 
that  he  can  use,  to  save  them  from  the  impending  ruin. — Fail- 
ing to  do  this,  he  would  become  a traitor  to  his  Lord.  But  I 
fear  that  the  very  terms  on  which  the  emigrants  to  Hayti 
accept  the  offer  of  the  Government,  will  forbid  them  to  do 
this.  In  a word,  I fear  that  they  must  either  riolate  their 
engagements  to  the  civil  government,  or  their  duty  to  God. 
Such  a fearful  dilemma  as  this,  every  conscientious  man  should 
use  all  his  vigilance  to  avoid.  Till  therefore,  something  more 
explicit  and  satisfactory  on  the  subject  of  religion  is  published 
by  the  government  of  Hayti,  I see  not  how  any  pious  black 
protestant  can  think  of  settling  and  bringing  up  a family  in 
that  Island  ; nor  how  any  protestant  minister  of  the  Gospel, 
or  professing  Christian,  can  advise  to  such  a measure. 

As  to  a Settlement  in  the  proposed  colony  on  the  Coast 
of  Africa,  those  who  have  gone  before  me  have  said  almost 
the  whole  that  I could  wish  to  be  said.  My  friend  from  Phi- 
ladelphia, in  particular,  w ith  whom  I have  been  favoured  to 
be  associated  in  other  enterprises  of  benevolence,  has  given 
you  that  very  view  of  this  enterprise,  which,  otherwise,  1 
might  have  endeavoured  to  exhibit.  What  he  has  said  so  well 
1 w ill  not  attempt  to  repeat.  Yet  I may  be  allow'cd  to  remark 


32 


tiiat  almost  from  the  hour  in  which  I heard  of  this  plan — and 
1 heard  of  it  from  him  in  whose  mind  I fully  believe  it  was 
first  of  all  conceived,  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Finley  of  this  State, — 
and  a native  of  this  village.  The  feature  of  the  plan  which 
has  always  struck  and  interested  me  the  most,  is  the  one  on 
which  my  friend  who  has  just  spoken,  has  chiefly  dwelt. 
Yes,  Sir,  what  has  all  along  interested  me  most  deeply  in 
meditating  on  this  plan  is  the  hope,  and  I think  the  strong 
probability,  that  the  God  ‘‘  who  seeth  the  end  from  the  begin- 
ning,” and  with  whom  “a  thousand  years  are  as  one  day  and 
one  day  as  a thousand  years,”  and  whose  prerogative  it  is  to 
“make  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him,”  and  to  bring  good 
out  of  evil,  has  ordained  that  the  guilty  conduct  of  Christ- 
ians in  enslaving  the  children  of  Africa,  shall  eventually  be 
made  productive  of  the  richest  blessings,  which  the  inhabit- 
ants of  that  quarter  of  the  globe  have  ever  received  from 
the  Father  of  Mercies.  I have  hoped,  and  I do  now  con- 
fidently expect,  that  Christian  nations — for  Christian  na- 
tions alone  have  done  it — have  been  permitted  to  enslave  the 
Africans,  that  ultimately,  when  Christians  shall  repent  of 
their  crime,  and  seek  to  repair  the  injury  they  have  inflict- 
ed, by  restoring  to  Africa  her  enslaved  children — ^by  restoring 
them  in  the  character  of  freemen  and  Christians — these  free- 
men and  Christians  will  be  the  instruments  in  the  hands,  of 
God,  to  civilize  and  christianize  that  large  section  of  the 
earth,  which  for  so  many  ages  has  been  sunk,  and  up  to 
this  hour  is  still  sunk,  in  profounder  depths  of  wretchedness, 
and  degradation,  and  infernal  superstition,  than  any  other. 

The  desirable  event  wliich  I thus  contemplate,  I with  the  more 
confidence  expect  will  be  realized,  because  if  it  takes  place, 
it  will  I think  be  analogous  to  the  usual  order  of  the  divine 
dispensations.  In  these  dispensations  the  work  of  a God  is 
often  apparent  in  this — that  while  “ men  think  not  so,  neither 
doth  their  heart  mean  so,”  he  is  fulfilling  his  sovereign  will,  and 
carrying  into  effect  his  merciful  designs.  From  the  sure 
word  of  prophecy,  we  know  that  ‘‘  Ethiopia  shall  strech  forth 


S3 


her  hands  nnto  God,”  and  “ that  all  the  ends  of  the  earth 
shall  see  his  salvation  and  therefore,  that  Africa  shall  yet 
be  christianized. 

But  it  seems  almost  impossible  without  a miracle,  which 
W’e  have  no  reason  to  expect,  that  it  ever  should  be  christianized 
except  by  Africans.  It  is  true,  as  my  friend  has  remarked, 
that  the  climate  of  Africa,  though  not  unfriendly  to  our  co- 
loured people,  is  so  fatal  to  white  men  that  they  cannot  live  in 
it  long  enough  to  carry  on  any  protracted  operations.  Indeed  I 
perceive  that  the  waste  of  missionary  life  in  the  East  Indies, 
which  are  less  fatal  to  Europeans  than  Africa,  is  such, 
that  the  friends  and  supporters  of  missions  there  have  be-» 
come  fully  sensible  that  native  converts  must  event- 
ually be  looked  to,  as  the  principle  missionaries,  and  they 
are  accordingly  making  strenuous  exertions  to  educate 
them  for  this  purpose.  Native  missionaries,  moreover,  when 
well  qualified,  are,  on  various  accounts,  more  acceptable  to 
their  brethren  than  strangers,  and  can  address  them  with 
more  advantage  from  a knowledge  of  their  customs  and  their 
feelings. 

Africans  must  and  will,  at  last,  christianize  Africa  ; and 
if  my  wishes  do  not  wholly  pervert  my  judgment,  I see  the 
process  begun,  in  the  Colonization  Society  w^hich  w e are  met 
to  assist,  by  forming  an  auxiliary.  A number  of  pious  and 
well  educated  blacks,  will  be  sent  from  this  country  in  the 
first  instance.  They  will  educate  others  in  Africa.  Every 
missionary  and  almost  every  convert,  will  be  a plant  w^hich 
wdll  bring  forth  fruit  a hundred  fold.  Under  the  divine  bles- 
sing, and  w hen  “ the  set  time”  in  the  pui-pose  of  God  to  fa- 
vour and  build  up  Zion  is  fully  come,  the  progress  of  Christ- 
ianity,— of  unadulterated  Christianity — among  the  heathen  and 
barbarous  nations,  will  be  far  more  rapid  than  has  ever  yet  been 
seen.  A century  hence  civilization  may  exist  and  Cluistian 
churches  may  be  planted  in  every  part  of  the  African  conti- 
nent. Civilization  and  Christianity  will  go  together,  and  mu- 
tually assist  each  other.  They  are  indeed  all  but  inseparable, 

E 


Id  no  way  can  a rude  and  barbarous  people  be  so  effectually 
and  so  rapidly  civilized,  as  by  making  them  Christians  ; and 
a portion  of  civilization  is  essential  to  the  permanent  establish-^ 
ment  of  Christianity  in  any  community.  What  a happy,  what 
a glorious  change!  when  these  sister  blessings  shall  have  shed 
their  benign  and  renovating  influence,  over  that  extended  mo-^ 
ral  waste — more  desolate  to  a Christian  eye  than  any  which  na- 
ture has  created  there — which  stretches  from  Cape  Monserra- 
do  on  the  west,  to  Grand  Cairo  on  the  east;  and  from  the  shores 
of  the  Mediterranean  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Through 
this  whole  vast  empire  of  Satan,  civilization  and  Christianity 
shall  yet  scatter  their  innumerable  and  inestimable  blessings ! 
‘‘The  wilderness  and  solitary  place  shall  be  glad  for  them ; and 
the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  It  shall  blos- 
som abundantly,  and  rejoice  even  with  joy  and  singing;  the 
glory  of  Lebanon  shall  be  given  unto  it,  the  excellency  of 
Carmel  and  Sharon,  they  shall  see  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  and 
tlie  excellency  of  our  God. ” 

If  I need  an  apology.  Sir,  for  addressing  you  at  much 
greater  length  than  I intended  when  I began  ; it  is  this — the 
subject,  as  it  is  apt  to  do,  has  made  me  forget  myself : and  if 
any  think,  that  I have  given  to  the  subject  too  religious  an  as- 
pect, I have  to  say,  that  different  views  of  it  have  been  presented 
by  others  ; that  as  it  was  religion  which  first  operated  to  put 
an  end  to  the  horrible  African  Slave  Trade,  so  I am  persuad- 
ed that  religion  and  its  friends  will  be  principally  instrumental 
in  colonizing  and  civilizing,  as  well  as  in  Christianizing  the 
country  from  which  the  unhappy  slaves  have  been  wrested. 
On  the  friends  of  religion,  doubtless,  must  be  the  main  reliance 
for  the  success  of  this  cause;  and  they,  I assuredly  believe,  will 
promote  it  with  all  their  means  and  all  their  influence. 


The  Constitution,  with  some  Amendments 
was  then  unanimously  adopted. — After  which  the 
Officers  of  the  Society  were  elected. 


35 


OX  MOTIOX  BY 

GREENBURY  W.  RIDGELY,  ESQ. 

IT  WAS  RESOLVED, 

That  Captain  Stockton  he  respectfully  solicited  to 
address  a letter  to  the  Managers  of  this  So- 
ciety, containing  a full  account  of  his  visit  to 
the  Coast  of  Africa,  together  with  such  remarks 
on  the  Climate,  Soil,  Inhabitants,  ^'C,,  of  that 
country  as  he  may  deem  important ; and  that 
this  letter  he  published  under  the  direction  of  the 
Managers, 

Mr.  R.  briefly  remarked  that  this  motion  was  suggested  by 
the  very  appropriate  address  with  which  the  iNIeeting  had  been 
opened.— Captain  Stockton  had  visited  Africa — He  aided  in 
the  selection  and  the  purchase  of  our  possessions  at  Monser- 
rado— He  has  had  as  good  an  opportunity  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  that  section  of  the  African  Continent  as  any 
man,  perhaps,  in  America.  We  have  but  two  formidable  ene- 
mies, Sir,  to  encounter  in  this  enterprise : Ignorance  and 
Apathy, — Let  the  one  be  removed  and  the  other  shall  be  eas- 
ily overcome.  Let  the  history,  the  design,  the  resources, 
and  the  prospects  of  the  American  Colonization  Society^  be 
once  generally  known,  and  it  must  become  popular  in  this  coun- 
try .-It  cannot  be  otherwise.  The  information  which  Capt.  Stock- 
ton  is  probably  capable  of  affording  should  be  scattered  through- 
out this  State  ; if  possible,  throughout  the  Union. — Such  a com- 
munication as  this  motion  contemplates,  will,  I am  sure,  be  ac- 
ceptable to  every  member  of  this  Meeting.  A request  of  this 
kind  is  perhaps  the  best  method  of  procuring  it.  1 hope  that 
it  will  not  be  unpleasant  to  the  gentleman,  whom  it  pei’sonally 
concerns. 


OjV  MOTIOjV  by 


'36  , 


REV.  GEORGE  S.  WOODHULL, 

IT  WAS  RESOLVED, 

That  Five  hundred  copies  the  Proceedings^  of 
this  Meeting  he  printed  in  the  Pamphlet  form-* 

The  Meeting  was  concluded  with  prayer  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Miller. 


The  following  is  a Copy  of  the  Constitution, 
as  adopted,  with  a List  of  the  Officers  of  the  So- 
ciety for  the  ensuing  year. 


) 


' Sk. 

CONSTITUTION 

JLetosSetrsies  eolonijation  Socfetg. 


ARTICLE  I. 

This  Society  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  the 
<<NEW-JERSEY  COLONIZATION  SOCIETY, 

ARTICLE  II. 

The  objects  of  the  Society  shall  be,  to  circulate  in- 
formation among  the  inhabitants  of  this  State,  on  the 
subject  of  COLONIZING  THE  FREE  BLACKS  OF  THE  UNITED 

STATES,  and  to  cooperate  with  the  Parent  Institutioisf 
at  the  City  of  Washington. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Any  person  paying  One  Dollar  Annually,  or  Twenty 
Dollars  at  one  time,  to  the  Treasurer,  shall  be  a Mem- 
ber of  the  Society. 


ARTICLE  IV. 

The  business  of  the  Society  shall  be  conducted  by  a 
Board  of  Managers,  consisting  of  a President,  six  Vice- 
Presidents,  a Treasurer,  a Secretary,  and  twelve  other 
Managers,  to  be  chosen  annually  by  the  Society  ; any 
five  of  whom,  convened  in  consequence  of  a regular  ad- 
journment, or  by  the  call  of  the  President,  shall  be  a 
quorum  to  do  business. 


38 


ARTICLE  V. 

The  Managers  may  make  their  own  By-laws. — It 
shall  be  their  duty  to  report  annually  to  the  Society — ^to 
correspond  with  similar  Institutions — and  to  make  use  of 
such  means  as  to  them  may  seem  expedient  for  the  pur- 
pose of  raising  funds,  and  for  diffusing  information  re- 
specting the  number,  and  situation  of  the  Free  Blacks  in 
the  United  States — the  situation  of  the  Colonies  on  the 
Coast  of  Africa — the  state  of  the  Institutions  that  may 
be  established  from  time  to  time  for  the  education  of 
Free  Blacks — the  progress  of  Civilization  and  Christianity 
on  the  Continent  of  Africa — and  on  all  snbjects  that  may 
be  connected  with  the  important  objects  that  this  Society 
have  in  view. 


ARTICLE  VI. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  shall  be  held  on 
the  second  Wednesday  in  July,  at  11  o’Clock  A.  M.,  at 
such  place  as  the  Managers  shall  previously  direct 

ARTICLE  VII. 

Twenty  Directors  shall  be  appointed,  who  shall,  at 
their  option,  meet  with  the  Board  of  Managers,  and  vote 
in  all  matters  that  may  come  before  them ; and  the  Board 
of  Managers  are  hereby  authorized  to  fill  all  vacancies 
that  may  occur  among  the  Directors,  and  in  crease  theii’ 
number  at  pleasure. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

This  Constitution  may  be  altered  by  a vote  of  the  ma- 
jority of  the  Members  present  at  the  Annual  Meetings. 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS 


PAESIDENT, 

ROBERT  FIELD  STOCKTON,  ESQ. 

OF  THF  U.  STATES  NAVY, 


JAMES  S.  GREEN,  ESQ. 

JOHN  POTTER,  ESQ. 

L.  Q.  C.  ELMER,  ESQ. 

DR.  JOHN  T.  WOODHULL. 

GEN.  JOHN  FRELINHUYSEN. 
WILLIAM  W.  MILLER,  ESQ. 

^Treasurer, 

ROBERT  VOORHEES,  ESQ, 

Sccretarg, 

PROFESSOR  JOHN  MACLEAN. 

IWanaaets, 

DR.  JOHN  VANCLEYE.  ^ PROFESSOR  CHARLES  RODGE 

RICHARD  M.  GREEN,  ESQ.  i REV.  GEORGE  S.  WOODHULL. 
MR.  GREENBURY  W.  RIDGELY.  | MR.  GEORGE  SHERMAN. 

MR.  DANIEL  PENICK.  | MR.  DANIEL  FENTON. 

THOMAS  WHITE,  ESQ.  ? DR.  HA  GERMAN. 

JOHN  SIMPSON,  ESQ.  I MR.  JOSEPH  OLDEN. 


40 


DIRECTORS, 

OR 

HONORARY  MANAGERS. 


HIS  EXCELLENCY  ISAAC  H.  WILLIAMSON. 

HIS  HONOUR  ANDREW  KIRKPATRICK. 

THE  HONOURABLE  RICHARD  STOCKTON. 

THE  HONOURABLE  THEODORE  FRELINHUYSEN. 
THE  HONOURABLE  LEWIS  CONDICT. 

HIS  HONOUR  WILLIAM  ROSSELL. 

HIS  HONOUR  GABRIEL  FORD. 

DAVID  THOMSON,  ESQ. 

SAMUEL  BAYARD,  ESQ. 

CHARLES  EWING,  ESQ. 

WILLIAM  CRUSER,  ESQ. 

REV.  DR.  JOHN  WOODHULL. 

REV.  DR.  JOHN  LIVINGSTON. 

REV.  DR.  SAMUEL  MILLER. 

REV.  DR.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

REV.  DR.  JAMES  CARNAHAN. 

REV.  DR.  JOHN  MACDOWELL. 

REV.  DR.  ASA  HILLYER. 

REV.  DAVID  COMFORT. 

REV.  ISAAC  V.  BROWN. 

REV.  WILLIAM  C.  BROWNLEE. 


» - I - 


- 


-/;l 


. V ^ ^ V 

i ' A *1 


